Cassette holder



Jan. 5, 1960 M. E. TICE CASSETTE HOLDER Filed Feb. 25, 1959 IN V EN T 0R.

/) Tray/vs Y5 United States Patent CASSETTE HOLDER Mary E. Tice, Flint, Mich.

Application February 25, 1959, Serial No. 795,373

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-33) This invention relates to supports, and more particularly to a device for supporting a radiographic cassette during a radiographic examination of a patient, eliminating the necessity for hospital personnel to hold the cassette, thereby eliminating the risk of harmful exposure o'fsuch personnel to radiation. p

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved cassette holder which is simple in construction, which is easy to set up for use, and which eliminates the necessity for hospital personnel to hold the cassette during the radiographic examination of a patient, thus preventing such personnel from being exposed to harmful radiation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cassette holder which is inexpensive to fabricate, which is durable in construction, which is readily adjustable so that it can be properly positioned for the required radiographic exposure, and being arranged so that it may be mounted on a conventional hospital stand.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved cassette holder according to the present invention, shown mounted on the upper portion of a conventional hospital stand.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved cassette holder according to the present invention. The cassette holder 11 comprises respective upper and lower, generally triangular frames consisting of the opposing horizontal channel bars 12 and 13 to the ends of which are connected generally V-shaped bracket members shown respectively at 14 and 15, the arms of the bracket members diverging outwardly from their respective relatively short bight portions shown at 16 and 17. The diverging arms of the top bracket member are rigidly connected to the respective ends of the downwardly facing upper channel member 12, and the diverging arms of the lower bracket member 15 are rigidly connected to the respective ends of the upwardly facing bottom channel member 13.

As is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the diverging arms of the upper bracket member are fastened to the ends of the upper channel member at the top surfaces of said channel member, whereas the diverging arms of the lower bracket member 15 are fastened to the bottom surfaces at the ends of the bottom channel member 13. This arrangement provides complete clearance for the horizontal insertion of a radiographic cassette, shown in dotted view at 17, between the channel members from either side of the device.

The channel members 12 and 13 are rigidly connected at their inside flanges by a vertical bar member 18, said bar member being connected to the intermediate por-' A second vertical bar member 19 is rigidly con-' nected between the bight portions 16 and 17' of the respective bracket members 14 and 15, the .bar member 19 being parallel to bar member 18, as is clearly shown in Figure 2.

The arms of the respective bracket members 14 and 15 are formed at their intermediate portions with the degree twists 20, so that the arms of said bracket members are vertical at their inner ends so as to merge with their bight portions 16 and 17, but are horizontal at their outer ends so as to flatly engage on the respective channel members 12 and 13 and to facilitate the rigid securement of the ends of the arms to said channel members. I

Rigidly secured to the top and bottom end. portions of the vertical bar member 19 are respective clamping collars 21 and 22 which are axially aligned and which are adapted to receive the top portion 23 of a conventional hospital stand 24 in the manner illustrated in Figure l.

The top rod portion 23 of the stand is in telescopic relationship with the lower portion thereof and may be adjusted in height relative thereto by conventional means not shown. Further adjustment of the cassette holder may be accomplished by adjusting the positions of the clamping collars 21 and 22 on the top rod member 23 and fastening the collars in their adjusted positions by tightening their fastening screws, shown at 25 and 26.

In using the device, a cassette 17 is engaged between the channel members 12 and 13, the top edge portions of the cassette being slidably received in the upper channel member 12 and the bottom edge portion of the cassette being slidably received in the lower channel member 13. The cassette may thus be supported in a desired position for making a radiographic exposure of a hospital patient without the necessity of an attendant to hold the cassette while the exposure is being made. This eliminates the possibility of harmful radiation to the attendant while providing a means for holding a cassette in an absolutely stationary position during the exposure, whereby an exposure of improved quality may be obtained as over the exposure which would be provided when the cassette is held by a hospital attendant.

While a specific embodiment'of an improved cassette holder has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A support for X-ray cassettes comprising a vertical post member, a frame adjustably secured on said post member, said frame comprising a generally V- shaped top bracket member having diverging horizontal arms, a generally V-shaped lower bracket member having diverging horizontal arms disposed parallel to said first-' named arms, said bracket members including bight portions rigidly connecting said arms at their inner ends and being provided with respective clamping collars engaged on said post member, a downwardly facing horizontal channel bar rigidly connected to the outer ends of the arms of the top bracket member, and an upwardly facing horizontal channel bar rigidly connected to the outer ends of the arms of the lower bracket member and extending parallel to said downwardly facing channel bar, whereby an X-ray cassette may be slidably engaged between said channel bars.

2. A support for X-ray cassettes comprising a vertical post member, a frame adjustably secured on said post member, said frame comprising a generally V-shaped top bracket member having diverging horizontal arms, a generally V-shaped lower bracket member having diverging horizontal arms disposed parallel to said first-named arms, said bracket members including bight portions rigidly connecting said arms at their inner ends and being provided with respective clamping collars engaged on said post member, a downwardly facing horizontal channel bar rigidly connected to the outer ends of the arms of the top bracket member, an upwardly facing horizontal channel bar rigidly connected to the outer ends of the arms of the lower bracket member and extending parallel to said downwardly facing channel bar, and a vertical bar member rigidly secured at its ends to the inner flanges of said channel bars, whereby an X-ray cassette may be slidably engaged between said channel bars.

3. A support for X-ray cassettes comprising a vertical post member, a frame adjustably secured on said post member, said frame comprising a generally V-shaped top bracket member having diverging horizontal arms, a generally V-shaped lower bracket member having diverging horizontal arms disposed parallel to said firstnamed arms, said bracket members including bight portions, a first vertical bar member rigidly secured at its ends to said bight portions, respectively clamping collars rigidly secured to said bight portions and engaged on said post member, a downwardly facing horizontal channel bar rigidly connected to the outer ends of the arms of the top bracket member, an upwardly facing horizontal channel bar rigidly connected to the outer ends of the arms of the lower bracket member and extending parallel to said downwardly facing channel bar, and a second vertical bar member rigidly secured at its ends to the intermediate portions of the inner flanges of said channel bars, whereby an X-ray cassette may be slidably engaged between said channel bars.

2,651,725 McFarland Sept. 8, 1953 Fritz May 27, 1952 

